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TRIO Upward Bound

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8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

TRIO Upward Bound at Commonwealth University - Bloomsburg is a free college prep program for eligible high school students.

It's not a summer camp, it's not just an after-school club. It's a holistic college preparatory program for incoming eligible high school students who will be the first in their families to earn a bachelor's degree.

Upward Bound (UB) is a federally-funded TRIO college access program designed to provide eligible high school students with the skills and motivation necessary to succeed in high school and attend college, ultimately leading to their successful completion of a two- or four-year degree (associates or bachelor's). The program is active year-round and hosts a five-week long Summer Academy on campus that provides students with a taste of what college life is like as they live in a residence hall with a roommate, eat meals in the campus dining hall, and take enriching academic and elective classes taught by high school teachers in actual college classrooms.

Funded entirely by a grant from the United States Department of Education, Commonwealth University's Upward Bound program, which is one of around 1,000 programs nationwide, has been continuously funded at Bloomsburg since 1978 and serves eligible students in grades 9-12 at eight local target high schools (Berwick, Mahanoy, Milton, Mount Carmel, North Schuylkill, Pottsville, Shamokin, and Shikellamy) located in Columbia, Northumberland, and Schuylkill counties of Pennsylvania.

Services are provided free of charge for eligible students. Students who participate in Upward Bound are under no obligation whatsoever to attend Commonwealth University.

Please check out the information below for more information about the program and the many opportunities it provides.  If you have any questions about the program or how to get involved, please don't hesitate to contact the Upward Bound office or any staff members directly.

Department Information

Upward Bound offers an array of FREE services and activities for students throughout the academic year and during the summer, all of which are geared toward preparing students for college. They include:

  • Weekly after school meetings at each student's school from mid-September through mid-May led by a teacher or counselor (Site Coordinator) and Upward Bound's Academic Coordinator
  • Peer tutoring or referrals to tutoring help
  • Career, personality, study skills, and values/interest assessments
  • Visits to nearby college campuses for tours and admissions presentations
  • Free coach bus transportation to the National College Fair in Philadelphia each fall for students and their parents/guardians
  • Professional mentoring and academic coaching
  • Career exploration and guidance
  • Study tips and tricks
  • Help for seniors with the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
  • Help finding and applying for scholarships
  • College application help and unlimited fee waivers for application fees
  • SAT preparation and help with registration
  • SAT and/or ACT fee waivers (good for up to 2 tests each)
  • Nominations for scholarships offered only to TRIO students
  • Family workshops on college planning and financial aid
  • Community service and volunteer opportunities
  • Field trips to museums, historical sites, and other educational destinations
  • Cultural, social, and recreational opportunities
  • An introduction to college life during the summer
  • Lasting friendships with students from other schools
  • Referrals to TRIO Student Support Services and other programs, where available, for students entering college
  • Team building and leadership experiences
  • Participation stipends (money) based on attendance, effort, and participation (currently limited to $40 per student/month during the school year and up to $60/month per student during the Summer Academy)
  • Unique opportunities, such as a chance to attend the annual National Student Leadership Congress in Washington, D.C. for FREE and learn more about politics and the federal government
  • Caring and dedicated program staff who are always willing to help and want to help each student meet his/her/their educational goals
  • Fun!
  • Lifetime memories!

Upward Bound serves students from the following eight target high schools in Columbia, Northumberland, and Schuylkill counties located in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Eligibility criteria for the TRIO Upward Bound program are set by the U.S. Department of Education. Students are invited to apply for admission if...

  • They attend one of the program's eight target high schools: Berwick, Mahanoy, Milton, Mount Carmel, North Schuylkill, Pottsville, Shamokin, or Shikellamy.
  • They live in a household where neither parent or guardian has earned a bachelor's (four year) degree and/or their household income falls within the program's federal income guidelines.
  • They are 9th or 10th grade. 11th and 12th graders can be considered too if spaces are available.
  • They intend to enroll in college immediately after graduating from high school.
  • They commit to regularly attending weekly after school meetings at their school as well as occasional virtual and/or on-campus events.
  • They are willing to attend at least one five-week long Summer Academy on campus before graduating.

The Application Process

Students can apply either online or using the paper application. The link to the online application is below:

Upward Bound Online Application

Students who prefer to apply using a paper application can download and print one or can pick one up at their school's guidance office or from Upward Bound's site coordinator at their school.

Completion of an application does not automatically enroll a student in the program! Once the student's completed application is received by the program, the Director will be in touch.

Financial Aid Information

Scholarship Search Sites and Programs

Selecting a College and/or Major & Applying to College

Study Skill Tips

Tutoring Resources

Admissions Testing Information & Practice Sites

Career Exploration

College Life / College Success

All Commonwealth University - Bloomsburg TRIO Upward Bound alumni are encouraged to register with the Council for Opportunity in Education's National TRIO Alumni Society. Please register today!

Alumni are also invited to follow the program's social media (links can be found to the left of this page) for announcements of upcoming events, including a special reunion event that occurs every five years.

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TRIO Upward Bound Staff

The Upward Bound staff members are proud members of the Pennsylvania Association of TRIO Programs (PA TRIO), the Mid-Eastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (MEAEOPP), and the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE)

CommonwealthU University Employee

John Kula

  • Director, TRIO Upward Bound
  • Bloomsburg